Bitcoin Magazine

DMND Pool Now Open To All Miners, With SOC 2 Compliance and Stratum V2 Support

DMND, a new mining pool built around Stratum V2 which began taking applicants for a soft private launch earlier this year, is now open for all miners to create accounts. Miners can register here to begin onboarding. 

DMND’s full public launch comes after a successful SOC 2 Type 2 audit, proving compliance with security policies necessary for large scale miners. 

“With our SOC 2 Type 2 compliance and streamlined business verification practices, the DMND pool is built for operators who value security, transparency, and professional-grade standards,” said DMND Co-Founder & CEO, Alejandro De La Torre. “Combined with miner-controlled block construction, we’re enabling miners to reclaim meaningful control over the network.”

Stratum V2 support takes a significant step on the road to further decentralization of different functionality in the mining industry, namely block template construction, the process of selecting transactions to include in the block being mined. 

Stratum V2 provides a mechanism to defend Bitcoin’s censorship resistance, allowing individual miners to produce their own block templates while mining with supporting pools (as well as sourcing templates from any third party provider they choose who is operating Stratum V2). Additionally, Stratum V2’s end-to-end encryption protects miners from hashrate hijacking attacks which can silently siphon a miner’s revenue. 

DMND’s public launch provides miners with another step forward for Stratum V2 on the network, and for progress towards improving the mining ecosystem’s level of decentralization. 

This post DMND Pool Now Open To All Miners, With SOC 2 Compliance and Stratum V2 Support first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Shinobi.

Last Updated on September 17, 2025 by Narendra Sahoo

What is SOC 2 Certification?

SOC 2 certification is an audit framework developed by the AICPA that evaluates an organization’s ability to design and operate effective controls related to security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy. It’s a critical assurance tool for service providers managing customer data in the cloud, demonstrating a commitment to robust internal controls and regulatory compliance.

SOC 2 Certification is today the need of the industry especially for every business offering third-party IT services. Businesses that outsource certain aspects of their data information operations prefer dealing with secure vendors. They prefer working with vendors demonstrating evidence of implementing best security practices and rigorously protect sensitive information.

So, most businesses demand  for a SOC 2 compliant vendor who demonstrates strict adherence to IT security. Achieving SOC 2 certification means vendors have established practices with required levels of security across their organization to protect data. Elaborating more on this, we have listed some of the benefits of attaining SOC2 Certification. Let us take a closer look at the benefits to understand the importance of SOC2 Audit and Attestation/Certification

Benefits of SOC2 Certification

1. Brand Reputation-

SOC 2 Certification is an evidence that the organization has taken all necessary measures to prevent a data breach. This in turn helps in building good credibility and enhances the brand reputation in the market.

2. Competitive Advantage –

Holding a SOC2 Certification/ Attestation definitely gives your business an edge over others in the industry. With so much at stake, businesses are only looking to partner with vendors who are safe and have implemented appropriate measures for preventing data breaches. Vendors are required to complete a SOC 2 Audit to prove they are safe to work with. Besides when pursuing clients that require a SOC 2 report, having one available will give you an advantage over competitors who do not have one.

3. Marketing Differentiator–

Although several companies claim to be secure, they cannot prove that without passing a SOC2 Audit and achieving SOC2 Certificate. Holding a SOC 2 report can be a differentiator for your organization as against those companies in the marketplace who do not hold SOC2 certification and have not made a significant investment of time and capital in SOC2 Compliance. You can market your adherence to rigorous standards with SOC2 Audit and Certification while others cannot.

4. Better Services: –

You can improve your security measures and overall efficiency in operations by undergoing a SOC 2 Audit. Your organization will be well-positioned to streamline processes and controls based on the understanding of the cyber security risks that your customers face. This will overall improve your services.

5. Assured Security:- 

SOC2 Audit & Attestation/Certification gives your company an edge over others as it assures your customers of implemented security measures for preventing breaches, and securing their data. Moreover, the SOC2 report assures the client that the organization has met established security criteria that ensure that the system is protected against unauthorized access (both physical and logical).

6. Preference of SOC2 Certified Vendors-

Most businesses prefer working with SOC2 Certified vendors. For these reasons having SOC 2 certification is crucial for organizations looking to grow their business in the industry.

7. ISO27001 is Achievable–

SOC 2 requirements are very similar to ISO27001 certification. So, having achieved SOC2 certification will make your process of achieving ISO27001 easier. However, it is important to note that clearing a SOC 2 audit does not automatically get you ISO 27001 certification.

8. Operating Effectiveness–

Auditing requirements for SOC2 Type II require compulsory 6 months of evidence and testing of the operating effectiveness of controls in place. So, SOC2 Audit ensure maintaining an effective information security control environment.

9. Commitment to IT security-

SOC2 Audit & Certification demonstrates your organization’s strong commitment towards overall IT security.  A broader group of stakeholders gain assurance that their data is protected and that the internal controls, policies, and procedures are evaluated against industry best practice.

10. Regulatory Compliance- 

As mentioned earlier, SOC 2 requirements go in sync with other frameworks including HIPAA and ISO 27001 certification. So, achieving compliance with other regulatory standards is easy. It can speed up your organization’s overall compliance efforts.

11. Valuable Insight–

A SOC 2 report provides valuable insights into your organization’s risk and security posture, vendor management, internal controls,  governance, regulatory oversight, and much more.

Conclusion

As professionals of the industry, we strongly believe that the benefit of clearing a SOC2 Audit and obtaining a SOC 2 report far outweigh the investment for achieving it.  This is because when a vendor undergoes a SOC 2 audit, it demonstrates that their commitment and that they are invested in providing secure services and ensuring the security of clients’ information.

This, in turn, enhances the business reputation, ensures business continuity, and gives the business a competitive advantage in the industry. VISTA InfoSec specializes in helping clients in their efforts of SOC2 Audit & Attestation.  With 16 + years of experience in this field, businesses can rely on us for an easy and hassle-free SOC2 Compliance process.

FAQ

1.Who needs SOC 2 certification?

Any SaaS provider or cloud-based service that stores, processes, or transmits customer data—especially in regulated industries—should pursue SOC 2 certification to build trust with clients.

2.What is the difference between SOC 2 Type I and Type II?

Type I reviews the design of controls at a specific point in time, while Type II assesses the effectiveness of those controls over a period (usually 3–12 months).

3.How long does it take to get SOC 2 certified?

The SOC 2 process typically takes 3–6 months, depending on an organization’s readiness, existing controls, and whether it’s a Type I or Type II audit.

4. Is SOC 2 mandatory?

SOC 2 is not legally required, but many clients—especially in the B2B tech space—demand it as part of vendor due diligence.

The post Top 11 Benefits of having SOC 2 Certification! appeared first on Information Security Consulting Company - VISTA InfoSec.

The Software as a Service (SaaS) industry has seen both great expansion and notable downturns in recent years, with key market shifts redefining the landscape.As companies adapt to the shifting SaaS landscape, SOC 2 Compliance for SaaS has emerged as a key priority—not just as a checkbox for security, but as a signal of trustworthiness and a commitment to protecting customer data in an increasingly cautious market. After reaching record highs in 2021, the SaaS industry faced a major downturn in 2022, with company valuations dropping by almost 50%, according to Meritech Capital.

This downturn shook the market, creating pressures around profitability and customer retention. However, now in 2024, it is a different story. That is despite the challenges, the SaaS industry is now stabilizing, with B2B SaaS companies projected to grow at an 11% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) and B2C SaaS at 8% for the remainder of the year according to the recent report of Paddle.

This period of cautious optimism underscores an undeniable priority for SaaS companies: client trust, particularly as clients increasingly scrutinize data security and compliance practices. Getting SOC 2 (System and Organization Controls 2) compliance has become a critical step in building this trust, as it ensures that a company’s data handling and security protocols meet the appropriate standards.

In this guide, we will learn why SOC 2 for SaaS companies is essential and offer practical steps to achieve SOC 2 compliance for SaaS in 2024.

Why SaaS companies need SOC 2?

As a SaaS company, you are handling a vast number of customer data from personal information to financial records. Now data breaches and mishandling of those information cannot only impact your reputation but can also lead to the loss of your client’s trust. As we learned in the introduction, SOC 2 is an important step that helps you build trust and transparency that you will need to assure clients that their data is protected at every level.

By being SOC 2 compliant, you will be able to stand out in a competitive market expressing your serious concern and approach to data security. That will show also how much serious you are about data security and are willing to go the extra mile to safeguard your client’s trust.

Plus, many companies often need to comply with various regulations to operate securely on a global scale which often includes frameworks like ISO 27001, a widely recognized security standard. When comparing SOC 2 vs ISO 27001, the key difference lies in their specific scope and focus.

While SOC 2 emphasizes trust principles for data security, ISO 27001 provides a broader framework for information security management. This is also true for other regulations like GDPR or HIPAA, which may apply depending on your industry or location.

Once your SaaS company becomes SOC 2 compliant, you’ll not only be able to demonstrate a proactive approach to data security but also align with broader regulatory standards. This will build trust, strengthen your reputation, and position your company as a security-focused partner in an increasingly competitive marketplace.

Core Trust Principles: Building blocks of SOC 2 for SaaS

SOC 2 compliance is built around five core trust principles that serve as the framework’s foundation. Each principle addresses a crucial aspect of data protection, making SOC 2 comprehensive and adaptable to SaaS environments:

1. Security: Measures to protect against unauthorized access, such as firewalls, encryption, and intrusion detection.
2. Availability: Ensuring systems are accessible to users, with safeguards against downtime and disruptions.
3. Processing integrity: Assuring that systems process data accurately, reliably, and free from errors.
4. Confidentiality: Protecting sensitive data from unauthorized disclosure, particularly in shared environments.
5. Privacy: Ensuring that personal data is collected, used, retained, and disposed of in compliance with privacy regulations.

By adhering to the above principles, your SaaS organization can build a strong security foundation that meets client expectations and supports compliance.

Which type of SOC 2 report is suitable for SaaS?

• SOC 2 Type 1: This report will assess the design of your company’s control at a specific point in time and verify whether the necessary controls are in place. If your SaaS company is just starting out with SOC 2 compliance a Type 1 report would be helpful as an ideal starting point.
• SOC 2 Type 2: This report is generally comprehensive and goes a step further in evaluating the effectiveness of those controls over a defined time period (6 to 1 year). Type 2 report is ideal if your SaaS company is looking to demonstrate sustained adherence to security practices, a requirement often favored by enterprise-level clients and partners who prioritize reliability and consistency in security measures.

Considering both options, you should first evaluate your company’s current stage in the SOC 2 compliance journey and the needs of your clients. If you’re just starting out, a SOC 2 Type 1 report is a good first step as I mentioned before, but then again if you’re working with enterprise clients who require proof of ongoing security practices, a SOC 2 Type 2 report is more appropriate.

Key steps to achieve SOC 2 compliance for SaaS companies

1. Identify the relevant SOC 2 trust principles

Determine which SOC 2 trust principles apply to your business. While SaaS providers prioritize the Security principle, client requirements may require identifying and addressing other principles such as Availability or Confidentiality.

2. Conduct a readiness assessment

Perform a SOC 2 readiness assessment or gap analysis to identify gaps in your current security practices compared to SOC 2 requirements. This helps in understanding what controls need to be added or improved.

3. Establish and document security policies and procedures

Develop detailed, documented policies and procedures addressing each selected SOC 2 principle. These should cover areas like data encryption, access control, incident response, and more, and will serve as the foundation for your compliance efforts.

4. Implement required security controls

Based on the readiness assessment, implement or strengthen controls to meet SOC 2 standards. This can include access management protocols, network monitoring, secure software development practices, and continuous vulnerability assessments.

5. Train employees on SOC 2 requirements

Conduct regular training sessions to ensure employees understand their role in achieving and maintaining SOC 2 compliance. This step is crucial to prevent insider threats and maintain a high standard of security awareness.

6.Engage in ongoing monitoring and logging

Set up logging and monitoring systems to track access, detect security incidents, and provide evidence of control operation. For SOC 2 Type 2 compliance, monitoring must demonstrate consistent control effectiveness over a period (usually 3, 6 months to a year).

7.Conduct a readiness review with an auditor

Engage a SOC 2 auditor for a readiness review, which provides an informal evaluation of your current controls and identifies areas needing improvement. This step prepares you for the official audit by allowing time to address any remaining gaps.

8. Schedule and complete the SOC 2 audit

Once ready, schedule the SOC 2 audit with a certified public accounting (CPA) firm. For a Type 1 report, the audit will assess controls at a specific point in time, while a Type 2 audit will assess controls over an extended period.

9. Address findings and achieve continuous compliance

If the audit identifies areas for improvement, address them promptly. Once compliant, continue regular monitoring, updating policies, and conducting internal audits to maintain SOC 2 standards over time.

Check out this YouTube video to learn in detail about the SOC 2 requirements and practical tips to ensure a smooth audit process.

The Best way to get your SOC 2 ready

While securing SOC 2 compliance is definitely beneficial, the process could feel quite overwhelming. This is especially true for SaaS companies that are just starting out, due to complex regulations and security standards which could make it challenging to know where to start and what to prioritize.

Plus, SOC 2 compliance requires not only the implementation of strong security measures but also an ongoing commitment to maintaining them which could be time consuming and resource intensive. Now this is where VISTA InfoSec comes in. At VISTA InfoSec, we provide SOC 2 audit and attestation services, helping SaaS providers confidently achieve and sustain SOC 2 compliance.

Our approach to SOC 2 compliance is designed to take the stress out of the process. With us you will not only meet compliance standards but will also build a solid foundation of trust with your clients, proving your dedication to protecting their data. Contact us today to start your journey to SOC 2 compliance. You can also book a FREE 1 time consultation with our expert by filling in the ‘Enquire Now’ form.

The post SOC 2 Compliance for SaaS: How to Win and Keep Client Trust appeared first on Information Security Consulting Company - VISTA InfoSec.